Sunshine and Rainbows

Summary: She never thought it was going to be sunshine and rainbows, but this was just insane. A series of one-shots taking place after the movie. The second one is Belle-centric.

Sunshine and Rainbows

Rating: K+

Genre: Introspective/Romance/Humor

Word Count: 499

Other Thoughts: This is the little cookie that inspired this collection. Weird writing style—very short and fragmented. I was in a Mood.

Sunshine and Rainbows

She never thought it was going to be sunshine and rainbows, but this was just insane.

She was sitting in a nook in the library looking down at King Arthur, but not even seeing the book in her hands. Her eyes were locked on the slender gold band on her left ring finger.

The fights were bad, now. Well, they always turned out all right, but the arguments themselves were bad. And this one was no different—worse, maybe.

"You're so spoiled! How did you ever even turn back?" Belle, one, Beast, zero.

"I wish I hadn't even met you! Being a beast for all eternity would be better than being married to you!" Belle, one, Beast, two. That was bad.

"Sometimes you're such a bastard! I wish I hadn't met you either, you pathetic excuse for a human being! Oh, wait; you're not human! You're just a Beast in human skin!" And walk out. Belle, ten, Beast, two. Game over.

Well, he deserved it.

Sigh. No, he didn't. She deserved it just as bad as he did sometimes. She buried her face in her hands and wondered when she had become so moody.

C'mon, Belle, a little voice told her. You were always too smart for your own good. Surely you could figure it out.

…

He was wearing off on her.

Great. Just great.

She felt her lips quirk up into a smile; it was rather humorous. And it wasn't like the arguments were all that bad. Especially when he came crawling back to pick up the shards of his dignity.

Well, it wasn't so much that as a rather harsh apology and then kissing her senseless.

Not that that bothered her, and not that they fought all that much—well, they didn't fight much.

Just a little bit of the time…

All right, Belle conceded to the voice—who was now laughing at her—we fight more than a little bit. A lot, then. But it's not so bad. Really.

And what about the pleasant banter that comes before—

"Don't you even get started!" Belle cut the voice off aloud, blushing. Then she buried her head in her hands. "I'm losing my mind…"

"Belle?"

Look up, close the book, and smile at him, Belle. "Hmm?"

He twisted a lock of light brown hair in his finger. Pawed the ground with his foot like he was still a beast. He looked so pathetic she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "I'm…sorry."

Goodbye, dignity.

Tentative smile—don't laugh, Belle—stand up. "I'm sorry, too. You're forgiven."

He gave her a huge bear—or Beast—hug. "You too. Friends?" He twisted his fingers around her own hair, let the other hand slide down her spine to rest in the small of her back.

Her thought train—what little was left of it—was beginning the slip away. Smile. Look up at him. Make your mouth move. "More than friends," she said, and kissed him.

No, it wasn't sunshine and rainbows. But maybe it was better that way.